Adjustable suspension scaffold



y 1935- o. J. MOUSSETTE, SR

ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION SCAFFOLD Filed May 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 1935- o. .1. MOUSSETTE, SR

ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION SCAFFOLD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1934 SW Z7. J. Maussaile, 51".

Patented July 16, 1935 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,008,081 ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION SCAFFGLD Oliver J. Moussette, Sn, Queens Village, N. Y. Application May 16, 1934, Serial No. 725,973 3 Claims. (o1. 304 1s)' This invention relates to suspension scaffolds or elevators and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and thoroughly efiicient device of this character capable of being readily positioned on the wall of a building and adjusted vertically thereof so as toform a convenient support or platform for a workman when washing windows, painting sills and frames, or otherwise working on the exterior of a building.

A further object of the invention is to provide a scaffold or elevator including a suspension cage, the upper portion of which forms a safety rail or guard for the Workman, means being provided within convenient reach of the workman for raising and lowering the cage and positively holding said cage in different positions of adjustment.

A further object is to provide a portable scaffold or elevator including adjustable prop or support having a suspension cable secured thereto and trained around a drum or Windlass mounted on. avertical extension of the cage offset with respect to the guard rail so as to permit easyadiustinent of the cage and, at the same time, allow freedom of movement of the workman.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efliciency.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of a suspension scaffold or elevator embodying the present invention showing it in position at the front of a building.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the cage.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line i2-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4- is a similar view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the upper portion of the prop or support showing the manner of attaching the suspension cable thereto.

The improved suspension scaffold or elevator, forming the subject-matter of the present invention, consists of a cage 5 preferably rectangular in shape, as shown, and formed of angle iron, said cage comprising horizontal lower bars 6 and horizontal upper bars 7 to which are welded, riveted, or otherwise secured vertical bars or uprights 8 thereby producing a skeleton-like structure. Resting on the flanges of the lower bars 6 is a platform 9 on which the workman stands when washing windows, painting or otherwise performing work on the exterior of a building and this platform may also be of the buckets on the upper portion of the frame,

as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. 5 Secured to the platform 9 and the adjacent horizontal bars 3 are guide straps or keepers it! in which are mounted longitudinally adjustable bars ii, the outer ends of which are provided with rollers l2 which bear against the face of the building and assist in guiding the cage as the latter is raised and lowered. The bars ll will preferably be spaced apart a sufficient distance to cl ar the window sills and said bars are provided with a series of spaced openings 83 adapted to receive pins I 4 for the purpose of holding the bars in adjusted position. The height of the cage 5 is preferably such that the forward cross bar 1 will extend across the chest of the workman and thus form, in eifect, a guard rail so as to prevent the workman from falling off the platform when reaching laterally in the act of washing windows or performing other work.

The cage is provided with a vertical extension i5 preferably offset with respect to the front horizontal bar 1 and which forms a support for a casing it having spaced bearings l1 and IS in which is mounted, for rotation, a shaft l9 carrying a worm gear 2t. One end of the casing is also provided with spaced bearings 2! and 22 in which is journaled a horizontal worm 23, the shaft of which is provided with a hand crank 24 so that, by rotating said crank, motion may be imparted to the shaft l9 and in turn to a Windlass or drum 25 keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 19. 35 Coiled around the drum or Windlass 25 is a suspension cable 26, one end of which is anchored to the drum, as indicated at 21, while the other end thereof is fastened to a loop or clevis 28 which is pivotally mounted at 29 for swinging movement on the upper section 30 of an adjustable prop or support 3i. That portion of the cable, adjacent the loop 28 is preferably provided with a beareye 32 which fits over the loop and serves to prevent undue friction and wear between the parts. The prop or support 3| is extensible so to allow it to be positioned against buildings of different heights and to this end the prop comprises telescopic members having spaced guide loops 33 secured thereto for slidably receiving the overlapped ends of the members, there being openings 3t formed in one of the members and adapted to receive pins or suitable fastening devices 35 for holding the members in adjusted position. The casing I6 is preferably open at one undue exertion on the part of the workman.

and lower horizontal end, as indicated at 36, so as to permit easy access to the worm and gear when it is desired to grease or otherwise lubricate the parts.

In operation, the prop or support 30 is positioned against the front of a building with the upper end of the suspension cable attached to the loop or clevis 23 and with the lower end thereof secured to the drum 25, as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The workman then enters the cage and stands on the platform in front of the extension i5 so that the workmans arms are free to wash windows or perform other work, while, at the same time, the forward bar 1 f the cage forms a guard rail which prevents the workman from accidentally falling from the cage. After one of the windows has been washed, the operator reaches upwardly and rotates the crank or handle which winds the cable on the drum and elevates the cage to a position opposite the next window to be much as the drum is provided with worm gearing, the cage will be positively held in any desired position of adjustment.

After the device has served its purpose, the telescopic members of the prop may be readily collapsed and the cage and prop conveniently transported to the next building where work is to be performed. Owing to the fact that the cage is of skeleton formation, it is exceedingly light and be conveniently manipulated without It will, of course, be understood that the devices may be made in diifeent sizes and shapes and constructed from any suitable material without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim:

1. A scaffold including support, a cage 0 at its top and including vertically spaced upper connected by corner uprights, a platform carried y lower frame, an extension projecting verti liy above the rear portion of the upper fr e and offset rearwardly with respect to the vertical axis of the cage to provide working space between the extension and the front of the cage, a casing supported on the washed and, inasr extension, a winding drum mounted for rotation within the casing, a suspension cable having one end portion wound about and secured to the winding drum and its other end secured to the support, worm gearing for rotating the drum, and,

means for manually rotating said gearing.

2. A scafiold including a support, a cage open at its top and including a platform and an upper frame supported above the platform by uprights, a winding drum supported above the rear portion of the frame and spaced rearwardly with respect tothe vertical axis of the cage to provide working space between the drum and front of the cage for a workman occupying the cage, actuating means for said drum accessible to a workman occupying the cage, and a suspension cable having one end portion wound about and secured to said drum and having its other end connected with the support.

3. A scaffold including a support, a skeleton cage open at its top and including a platform and an upper guard rail at its front, a vertical extension for1...ing part of the cage and offset rearwardly with respect to the guard rail to provide space between the extension and guard rail for a workman standing upon the platform, a casing mounted on the extension and having one side open and provided with an arm extending from its other side and formed with an upturned portion having a bearing at its upper end, a shaft having one end journaled in the casing, said shaft extending fr m the last-menticned side of the casing and having its other end journaled in the bearing of said arm, a winding drum mounted upon the shaft betweenthe casing and arm and rotating with the shaft, a worm gear carried by the shaft withinthe casing and exposed through the open side of the casing, a horizontal worm rotatably mounted in the casing and meshing with the worm gear, a suspension cable having one end secured to the winding drum and its other end secured to the support, and a hand crank connected with the worm and disposed between the extension and front of the casing.

OLIVER J. MOUSSET'IE, SR. 

